Cuomo, who drove Lee and her sister to the hospital, according to a Facebook post on Sandra Lee's public page, said that her hours-long double mastectomy procedure concluded around 1 p.m.

"I am happy to report that she is doing well as can be expected and has begun the post-surgery recovery process," Cuomo said in a statement. "On behalf of Sandy and myself, I want to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and prayers over the last few days."

The governor, donning scrubs over a "neat tie," stayed by the 48-year-old lifestyle personality's side until she fell asleep in the operating room, according to a post on Lee's Facebook page Tuesday.

"When the medical staff rolled a gurney in to wheel Sandra to the O.R., she said she'd rather walk," the Facebook post said. "And so she did, with the governor by her side down the long hospital corridors."

The double mastectomy had been initially scheduled for last week but was delayed after Lee came down with an upper respiratory infection. Cuomo has said he plans to take some personal time to be with Lee.